“We need an intellectual resetting”

The Day’s photo exhibit in Lutsk does have some permanent admirers, who every year eagerly wait for its opening. Therefore it was gratifying to see in the crowd, which filled two storeys of the library of the Lesia Ukrainka East-European National University, the familiar faces of professors, assistant professors, journalists, businessmen, state officials, and people who are simply interested in photo art. The number of people who are eager to communicate with The Day’s Editor-in-Chief Larysa Ivshyna not only because of her Volynian origin, but also for an interesting discussion in a circle of partisans, was no less. There is one expressive feature: on the eve of the photo exhibit The Day’s editor-in-chief received an invitation to give a master class for Volynian journalists.

There is a peculiar tradition that Lutsk is always the starting point for The Day tours across Ukraine with its photo exhibit, being the heart of the region with an interesting geographic location, situated between two capitals, Kyiv and Warsaw, right in the middle. Rector of the Lesia Ukrainka East-European National University Prof. Ihor Kotsan noted that the newspaper had contributed not only to the change of the title of the university (until recently it was called simply Volynian University), but also its status and concept of development. This university, Larysa Ivshyna admits, has been a long-time good partner not only for its photo exhibits but many other good deeds. She thanked the head of the university’s monitoring council People’s Deputy Ihor Palytsia, whose charity foundation “Nova Volyn” has many times supported the newspaper. Last year the foundation gave money to buy the book The Power of the Soft Sign for schools and colleges of Lutsk, this year – to subscribe to Den for educational establishments and buy the series of books “Armor-Piercing Political Writing.” A historian by profession, Ihor Palytsia, according to Den/The Day’s editor-in-chief, understands that such a small book series as “Armor-Piercing Political Writing,” can create a considerable preparation base for great intellectual regeneration.